Happy New Years

   Hello Bookish Loves,
     Can I say Merry Late Christmas and Happy New Years from the Middle of Nowhere Mississippi?  Well, I am anyways.  I am excited to say that I did amazing this nine weeks in all of my classes.  I improved in every class except Science....  Which is the main reason why I went without blogging for those months.  That class and my sports were killing me.
   Well, the best day of the year is coming up in four days.  My Birthday!!!! Turning the big 1-4, but I liked being 13.  I don't know, but I just love being 13.
   I'm rambling at this point, I have nothing to really talk about because I haven't really read any books this holiday.  But Talia said she should have some reviews coming up some time this week.  So be on the look out for those, and hopefully I will get some reading done soon.  Just thought I would update you people!
    With Bookish Love,
         Courtney W.

Review: A Beautiful Struggle by Lilliana Anderson

Title: A Beautiful Struggle
Author: Lilliana Anderson
Published: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Indie
Reviewer: Talia Caston
  Katrina Mahoney has a very full life attending university to study a law degree, training for triathlons and now she is working part time as well. She couldn’t possibly find time for a relationship, especially after her last one ended so catastrophically.

Right now she is content focusing on work, study and training while hanging out with her best friend David Taylor, a womaniser with a heart of gold that would do anything for Katrina – except watch her get hurt again.

That is, until the dashing Elliot Roberts, a junior solicitor from her work, shows an interest in her despite their office’s ‘No Dating’ policy.

Katrina struggles with following her heart or following her mind and has trouble seeing where her heart truly lies.

             Hello everyone, before I begin this review I thought I would introduce myself.  I'm Talia Caston- you'd already know this if you read the reviewer tab where I told you it wasn't Courtney reviewing. I'm a 19 year old female from Idaho going through her freshman year of college at Boise State. (Go Broncos!)  I met Courtney when she commented on one of my reviews on Goodreads.  We have been emailing back and fourth for a few months and she asked me to be a co-reviewer on her blog because she needed a person to review new adult. So here I am. 

Disclaimer:    I feel melancholy since my first review on CBN is a negative one.  I just don't do unhonest book reviews.  I feel it is unfair to the author, the readers of the review, and myself.  The meaning of this little paragraph is that I am not trying to down the author or the book.  Just stating my opinion in the kindest fashion.

  This book is lacking three major areas that are crucial to the success of a book. The central plot is confusing, the author is telling us the story- not showing us the story, and lastly, the characters are way underdeveloped and unbelievable. It just isn't my cup of tea. 

  I read all 250 pages ,and even at the end I was still scratching my head and thinking, the point of the story being?  I get that it was suppose to be simple, and simple it was. Enough for me to wonder what I was suppose to get out of it.  If you asked me to point out the central plot, I wouldn't be able to give you an accurate summary other than:  2 people who are not suppose to like each, well- like each other.

   I don't think the author has found her click in writing yet.  Or at least not in this book.  When reading a book that captures your attention, the author's style and writing just have to flow to effectively draw in readers.  This book just didn't because she just told us the story, she didn't show it.  Example: 
      " Cute car," Elliott commented, walking over to me.  I turned towards him and leaned casually against the driver's side of my car.  "So Friday?" he checked with me, smoothing my hair and pulling me towards him, kissing me tenderly.

  "Friday," I agreed, opening my car door and getting inside.  Elliott shut the door for me as I started the car, waving and returning to his car as I drove away."

    And the last reason why I just didn't enjoy the book is undeveloped and unrealistic characters.  All the people in the office, I found them more and more annoying as the book goes on.  And I think they took away from the story as a whole.  I didn't feel any relationship form, and the people in the office are like from a soap opera.  The characters just were not my thing in this particular book. 

  This book just wasn't for me.  And I honestly, don't know if it is yours.  But several other reviewers have fell in love with it.  So maybe I am just the odd ball in this case.  If you want to go try it out, then go for it.  I just can't recommend it, since I personally didn't enjoy it. 

   
 

Review: The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L A Meyer

Title: The Mark of the Golden Dragon
Series: A Bloody Jack Adventure (Book #9)
Author:  L. A. Meyer
Published: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Purchase from: Amazon, B&N , Book Depository  

Jacky Faber, soldier, sailor, spy, and sometime pirate, condemned for life to the English prison colony in Australia for high crimes against the Crown, has once again wriggled out of the grasp of British authorities. Back on her flagship, the Lorelei Lee, she happily heads back to England in the company of dear friends and her beloved Jaimy Fletcher.

However, due to a typhoon, an earthquake, tidal waves, pirates, and her own impetuous nature, Jacky is cast into a world of danger that extends from the South China Sea to the equally treacherous waters of politics in London's smoky dens of intrigue, deception, and betrayal.

Can she save herself from recapture and a final trip to the gallows? Can she also save her own dear Jaimy from the madness that seems to be overtaking his tortured mind? Devious Chinese businessmen, willowy Eurasian maidens, fierce Gurkhas, loyal friends, and wildly romantic highwaymen are all involved in this tale of love, courage, and redemption.

    My reaction when I first started the series when I was 11 ,and when I just finished the first book:

My reaction now that I am almost 14 and the series just goes on and on and on ,and I just finished the 9th book :

   Am I the only one who just think the author has dragged out the series 5 books too many?  I mean honestly the first 5 were amazing.  The protagonist, Jacky, wasn't so cocky, you just wanted to throw the book down so you wouldn't have to listen to her .  I miss the Ship's boy, Jacky who fell head over heels with Jaimy Fletcher.  I miss the too small, tiny blonde girl.  What the heck happened? 
   
  This book starts off with Jacky and her little boy from an island being dropped off in a port and coming face to face with a tiger.  And living to tell the tale.  While in reality, Jacky, you would have been eaten alive and made the tiger a very nice salty sandwich.  And I think I would have liked the ending if that happened better than this series dragging on.

    I think the one of the only reasons I am giving this book a 3 stars is that it has a retelling of The Highwaymen.  One of my favorite poems.  Which brings me to another part in the story that made me want to jump in and grab a character by the ear- this time our male love interest Jaimey Flether.  How could he fall in love with another woman after only losing Jacky for only a month.  No man can say that they were absolutely in love with the first women when they move on just like that.
    
    The  other reason is because it has my favorite character in the whole book, that was introduced to us in the Mississippi Jack book. Here comes my beautiful, sexy Lord Richard from the Dragoons.  Now if you haven't invested your time or money into the books, I recommend you read yourself the series up to Mississippi Jack.  It seemed to be one of my favorites and we got introduced to Lord Richard.

    Ah, Richard, was once in the unknown American wilderness when he met the infamous Jacky Faber.  He was one of the million reasons Jacky and Jaimy haven't gotten married yet.  If I was Jacky, at this point in her life,  I would have just settled for Richard Allen and just leave Jaimey alone instead of trying to find him in every freakin' corner of the earth.  Alone, Jacky, alone.   You and Richard could be living in the West Indies with 15 blonde boys running around with sabers instead of being a pain in my butt.  I'm sure Richard would agree with me a 100%.

The author writing style and the dialog is good, yet sometimes over drawn. I say if the author put an end here with Jacky and Jaimey- or at this point she could end up with someone of the same gender.  I don't care, just end the books so that you don't ruin the series more than they already are.   At this point it feels like the author just doesn't want to end the series and is dragging it out longer and longer.

  Book 10 is already out, and from the reviews I have been reading, it sounds like the series continues. This is my reaction now that I hear it isn't going to end soon to Louis, the author.

The actual rating is 2.5 stars, but it rounds up.

Song Match Monday Meme

     Song Match Monday is a meme that is where you pick a book and find a song that just fits perfectly with the book, characters, or just the over all feeling.  

Hello Bookish Loves,
   Hope you are all having a wonderful Monday.  This week, I thought of a new meme.  I seem to come up with a new one each week, but I assure you, this one is for keeps.  I just know too many songs that could be made for the books.  This week I am going to my favorite book, Beautiful Disaster by Jaime McGuire.

   Living in south Mississippi, I have a love for the country genre of music.  Yes, I love those songs about pick up trucks and dogs.  Well  first time I heard Hard to Love by Lee Brice , one thing popped in my head- Travis Maddox.

   Not that Travis would be wearing a pair of cowboy boots and singing to Pidge in a southern draw would have me complaining.  Actually, it is kinda make me drool right now thinking of him with a pair of worn out jeans and all those tattoos sticking out of a plaid shirt and....- Okay, stop this Courtney.  You're just making this harder to get your point across.  You can day dream about Travis another day. 

Here are the lyrics:

I am insensitive, I have a tendency
To pay more attention to the things that I need.
Sometimes I drink too much, sometimes I test your trust,
Sometimes I don't know why you stay with me.

I'm hard to love, hard to love,
No, I don't make it easy,
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
You say that you need me,
I don't deserve it but I love that you love me, girl.

I am a short fuse, I am a wrecking ball
Crashing into your heart like I do
You're like a Sunday morning full of grace and full of Jesus
I wish that I could be more like you.

I'm hard to love, hard to love,
No, I don't make it easy,
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood,
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
You say that you need me,
I don't deserve it but I love that you love me, girl.
Love me, girl.

Girl, you've given me a million second chances
And I don't ever wanna take you for granted,
I'm just a man, I'm just a man

Hard to love, hard to love,
Oh, I don't make it easy
And I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood.
I'm hard to love, hard to love
And you say that you need me,
I don't deserve it but I love that you love me, girl [x2]

You love me, girl. 

Travis was so hard to love in Beautiful Disaster, yet so easy to fall head over heels with.
Sometimes I drink too much, sometimes I test your trust 
I am a short fuse, I am a wrecking ball
Crashing into your heart like I do
Girl, you've given me a million second chances
And I don't ever wanna take you for granted,

   Y'all those lyrics are head on with Beautiful Disaster, and if I can get an agreement that Travis would look downright gorgeous in country clothing, all of us Disasters can go in an buy him a pair of boots and a belt buckle. 

     Oh and I just found a guy that would look friggin' awesome for the part of Travis in the upcoming movie.  I know Matt Lanter doesn't exactly look like Travis in the eye department, but we can buy him some dark brown contact lenses, buzz cut the hair, and he will be a great actor for my Hubby's part.
  With Bookish Love,
      
      
 
 
 
 

 

 

Now taking Book Feature of the Week!

  Hello Bookish Loves,
      Since I have bought my beautiful planner earlier this month for the blog, I am now scheduling Book Features of the Week for 2013.  This is a great way to promote your book for free while also obtaining a review.  Book Features of the Week is  a fun thing to do if I have time in advance to get everything ready.   So I need to know 3 weeks ahead of the time you want to have the Book Feature of the Week.

    This year my goal is to get every week booked up with time for me to get the images ready, to review the book, and get my author-asking questions up.
 If you are an author or know an author who may be interested in a spot on BFOTW, or even just a review, here are the requirements:

   1) Your books will have to be in the following genres:
*Children Books (Maya is getting to the point where she loves to read to at night, so I would most definitely be able to review, no matter what sub genre the children's book is.)

*Young Adult
- Contemporary
- Romance with a big part in the story
- Historical
- Some Paranormal

*New Adult ((NEW REVIEW GENRE))
- Contemporary

* Historical Romance/ Christian Romance  ((NEW REVIEW GENRE!!))
-  Anything from 1500s- 1900s.

* Adult  ((NEW REVIEW GENRE!!))
-Contemporary
-Humor
-Some Paranormal 

2)  You will also have to be able to provide two copies of electronic books for their are two reviewers on this site now.  If it is in hardcover format, one will only be needed.  We can exchange the book between the two of us.

3) Send all requests for BFOTW and review requests to courtsbooknook@gmail.com .  That is our new email address for this blog.

 Now, those are the requirements for BFOTW and review requests, but we are open to  interviews with authors of any genre except Erotica.
  
Any questions, concerns, ect? Email me at courtsbooknook@gmail.com

    With Bookish Love,

Back with vengeance + Giveaway

    I'm back!  I left you people in the dark with a promise that I would be back soon, and the sooner turned into a later.  I know we all have excuses why we drift away from things and ignore them for a while.  You ready for mine?  I have been waist deep in school work, have had a basketball game almost everyday except weekends, weekends I clean the mess my room turned into magically over the week, and I have been sick with every possible cold and cough known to man.

   In other words, I just haven't been the usual bookish Courtney.  But now I am back.  This time with vengeance.  I have bought a planner for the book nook.  Yes, I the most unorganized person god ever graced the earth with, bought a planner.  Last year, I did feature of the week and that just turned into a big, huge mess. I had no idea what week I had what on. So this planner I invested in will keep me organize and let the blog grow more organized and more thought. I even have proof I bought one.

     Now, I hope to have 2013 filled with much of my bookish self.  Oh, and just to let you people know, my reviews are going to get better.  I swear on it.  My grammar used to lacking and let us not even bring up the spelling.  That would just cause me to die from embarrassment.

       On to the paragraph you people have been craving.  It is time for the giveaway.  Oh, and if you would stay tuned, I am going to have new giveaway's put up through out this December and into January, as that is my birthday.  And I have advanced from comments to - *gasp*- Rafflecopter.  This way it will be easier for all of you to enter.  Oh, and this giveaway is international.  You can live in the North Pole, and if you win I will ship it to you.  Just not through snail mail.  I'll just hand it off to Santa.  I had a video done for it, but my dad has the new plan from C-Spire that only allows thirty minutes of video watching a month, and apparently you can't even upload once you go past those minutes on Youtube.  Depressing and a waste of my precious time.
 
  Up for the giveaway is some random swag
that I have accumulated over the year of my blogging and I am in a giving mood this December.  A few pieces are signed and all are in great condition.  I wish you all the best of luck! 
With Bookish Love,
        
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: The Color of Grace by Linda Kage (Surprise Post)

    So, let me start this off by saying, Linda.  I need to be reminded a day in advance about my post.  I am the most forgetful person to ever grace the earth with their presence.  Also, even though I want to throttle her right now.  Wish Linda a happy 20th birthday.  She doesn't look a day older than 19. :P

     So, Linda, other than not reminding me. *scowls*  We did a surprise post.  Well that leaves me with so many options...  And so little brain time.  So,  I finally decided that I will do her birthday present reveal (hers and my own personal christmas present too.....) .  So here it is along with a review and some birthday image I found on WeHeartIt.

Images:

     And for the big present reveal for the most amazing, funniest, non-smut writing author in the world.  Seriously,  you are going to get this shirt just email me your shirt size and I will get it made ASAP and in the mail.  You have been asking and I am finally agreeing to loan him to you.

 

  Onto the review!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: The Color of Grace
Author: Linda KAge
Series: N/A
Source: Printed Pre-edition sent from Linda
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Publishers
Publishing Date: August 1st 2012
Rating: 5/5 Nooks

   Two. Words.
 Ryder. Yates.

 

  Yes,  I was left crying for months and talking to myself.  It's okay you'll find someone like Ryder Yates, who doesn't have a last name that starts with one of the last four letters of the alphabet. You will.  *backstory* My last name begins with a W and I am always at the end of the line from the basketball roll to pictures.  And Yates will get me put even more to the end.  Next time, Linda I expect a male hero with the last name that begins with 2 "A"s.

    Well, I read the first book I ever read on my Nook First Generation was The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage, and the book took me off guard , grabbed me by my collar and dragged me to the Linda Kage Idol.  So, since then I fanned Linda on Goodreads and behold she sent me an email about fanning and ect.  I was kinda really liking this author.
    And I guess we haven't really emailed since then but she has been an amazing, dedicated follower from the beggining so when I saw on Linda's website that she had an excerpt of her new book out soon, and I emailed her telling her I just hated her and then we started talking and she sent me a printed version of the pages.  And God,  I fell head over heels in love with the writing style all over again.
   One thing you will hear over and over about Linda's writing style from all of her young adult books, you will learn that her simplicity and way with words can send her skyrocketing to the favorites of your long list of YA.  No, hers doesn't consist of tattoos and cussing- yet, but holds the innocence with sparking romance in it that sets her apart.
    As you know,  I should be biased since I pretty much love talking to this author.  I consider her my YA writing mother.  Yes, she gives me tips, encourages me, and is all around an a-m-a-z-i-n-g person.
  But knowing Linda didn't influence this review at ALL.   I would have love it.  The plot was original, although her mother did kind of sit on my nerves through out the book.  I just can't pinpoint why.
   The characters were all believable, even the school "it girl" who usually comes across way too cliche.  Especially Ryder, even though I am almost positive my mother would call him a Wimp, I call him my true love.  I know that Ryder is suppose to look like Zac Efron, but you know who I keep imagining him as?  Hunter Hayes.  Even though Hunter is about 6 inches too short to be Ryder, that is just the image I get when I think of Ryder Yates.
      My favorite scene?
     The one with Ryder crying in the bathroom with Grace.  That broke my heart and really stole the strory from a four star to a five automatically.  My aunt actually said she couldn't see why Ryder would cry if he really didn't like his ex girlfriend.  But,  I can see why.  He became emotionally attatched to her even though she was mean, possessive, and cheated on him with his best friend.
    One thing, I didn't really love was the ending.  I really would have liked to see more chemistry to commit to friendship between Lana and Grace.  And then eventually, like an ending with her and Ryder getting married or something.  But the ending didn't end that bad for me to give it less than a five because the rest was an absolute shear amazingly written book.

 

Slacking- Feel Free to knock me over.

  Hello My Bookish Loves,
   I haven't been ignoring you.  No, loves, I haven't.  I have just had a heck of a personal life.  All the way from cheer practice Monday and Tuesday, with games on Monday.  Brett playing football on Friday.  Studying for tests 2-3 hours a day Mon-Fri.  Then on Saturday, Southern Miss games.  Then last but not least Church on Sunday.   No more excuses though.  I am here and I am here to blog constantly.  But if y'all want proof of my social life here it is.

Me.

Brett and His Girlfriend, Taylor

Maya at a Southern Game

    I will have a cover love up with Abbi Gline's new book Sunday.  So stay tune.

Author Interview: Lisa M Stasse

 Hello Bookish Lovlies,  

   Make sure you all welcome the newest addition to my stash of bookish mothers.  Please welcome Author Lisa M Stasse, debut author of The Forsaken.  I did enjoy interviewing her.  And loves, I am going to try to drag Nicole Williams, the writer of Clash and Crush here for the next interview.   (Okay, I am going to get on my knees and beg her saying, she must come and donate Jude to the Courtney's Basement home for the miscared for boyfriends.   If she doesn't I will be kidnapping him personally.  Along with Tony.))

 

1) So, do you consider your self a writer that lives for writing or is it a something fun to do on the side?

At this point, I pretty much live for it. I always loved to write, but it's only in the past few years that I figured out how to write books (I was writing short stories before that). I absolutely love it. My dream is to just be able to write a couple great books a year!

2)  The Forsaken sounds A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  What can you tell the readers to be expecting?

Expect something with a lot of thrills, and action, adventure and passion! There is romance (naturally!), but it's not the sole focus of the story. This is basically a story about a good girl who inexplicably gets sent to the harshest, worse place on earth (a prison island for subversive individuals called "the wheel") and has to use her wits to make friends and figure out how to escape. Along the way she falls in love, but even that gets tested pretty fast.

3)  Where was the place that you first thought of the plot for The Forsaken?

It started as a creepy nightmare I had about being chased by guys with knives through a forest. And somehow that merged with a conversation that I just had with a friend whose sister was worried about taking the SATs. I thought, "I wonder what it would be like if the government invented a personality test, that if you failed it, you lost everything and got banished to a prison island forever." So that was the beginning of it all. I think I was actually at Starbucks when the idea came together in my head (I'm a coffee fiend, so I'm often at Starbucks!)

4) The road to publication. Tell us about it. 

The road has treated me well so far. I got my dream agent (Mollie Glick at Foundry--hi Mollie!)  from sending her a query letter via email. And then Simon & Schuster bought The Forsaken trilogy in a pre-empt, pretty much right away. Then I saw the cover art (which I had been obsessing and worrying about) and I really loved it. And I've been lucky with foreign rights selling too. Of course there have been a few speed bumps along the way. My original editor Courtney left S&S partway through the process (to join the FBI! For real! How badass is that?) but luckily I got a new awesome editor Zareen (hi Zareen!) who is absolutely fantastic to work with. We have big plans!

5)  So, any obsessed stalker fans yet?  If not I can send some of my Jamie McGuire cult to you.......

Hee hee! So far, I love all my readers and fans! And I probably always will. But I look forward to getting my first stalker! :) I mean, it would be scary, but I guess it would be a sign of success (in a twisted way). I would LOVE you to send some of Jamie's cult my way! ;)

6)  Speaking of Jamie McGuire, have you read her book, Beautiful Disaster?

I haven't read the book, but I've heard good things about it. Some of my friends say it's a total blast to read. I'll add it to my TBR pile.

7)  Is it okay if I kidnap you and hold you captive in my basement?  I already have a nice collection of book boyfriends and their mothers. ;) 

YES! I was hoping you would ask this question! :) Bring on the basement! As long as there's a coffee machine down there and an internet connection, then I'm happy to move in anytime! :) Is Jamie down there too?? We could all have a party or something!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR BLOG!!!! :)

Here are all my links if you need 'em!!! Thanks again!!!!

Website: www.lisamstasse.com

Official Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtIwks26SZU

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12987192-the-forsaken

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisamstasse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisamstasse

Blog tour: Review: Painted Blind by Michelle Hansen

Title: Painted Blind
Author: Michelle A Hansen
Series: N/A
Publisher: Indie
Published: May 3, 2012

  Seventeen years old and agoraphobic, Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risqué photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown. Now everyone—especially her dad—can see it. And yet, somehow, those are the mundane things in her life. That is because she is about to fall unexpectedly, head-over-heels in love with Erik, a mysterious young man who rescues her from a crowd of admirers, and who she’s actually never seen because…he can make himself invisible.

As strange as this may seem, it’s about to get even stranger. Erik takes her to his palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him. Overtaken, intrigued, and not wholeheartedly believing he's real, she is going to have to decide if she can love him blindly. Because if she can’t, she may lose him forever.

A wild, romantic adventure that travels at breakneck speed, Michelle A. Hansen’s debut is a fantastical journey filled with laughter, danger, and the indomitable power of love.
Painted Blind reminds us that one can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds with fortitude and a little luck and is a testament to the fact that real love is worth fighting for.

   Taken by the hand and drawn to love- is my reaction to this book.  Yes, I love Greek mythology.  Yes, I love retellings. Yes, I love romance.  Stir them in a pot with a bucket full of good writing you have the book....... Percy Jackson.... I'm joking, I'm joking.  When you stir and mix and laugh over the boiling pot you get Painted Blind. 
    Well, our Heroine, Psyche- cool name, right?- went off to do some modeling in Italy that she didn't think would end up  here in the US.  Well, Psyche, apparently didn't take ICT II in 8th grade to know how fast these things go around.  :P  At a local shop we meet our newest edition to the basement, girls and sparse guys that read the blog.  And he won't let her see him.  (His name is Eric by the way.)
     It was darker than what I was expecting.  I didn't get the bubbly writing I thought I was going to get- although no complaints there.  If I want a soft bubbly book I can always go pick up Anna and the French Kiss and fall in love all over again. 
   Which is why I have so many favorite books,  you can't just pick one favorite book because you love another one just the same except for different elements.  But I must say, I have a new favorite greek retelling.  Sorry, Aphrodite's Blessings,  you aren't exactly in the same catagory as this writer.
                         With Bookish Love,

                             

I'm Back!

  Hey y'all, I am partially back and have a ton of books to review.   Yes, I didn't just leave you all alone in Courtney world.  I was just a little occupied in my basement. :P   Oh and I have something for y'all......  Just watch:

So Want Saturday

  For So Want Saturday- instead of having books I want I will tell you things I personally want.  So this is book related at some points and on others not so much. 

1) To go to a Hunter Hayes Concert.....
    Okay, I admit I am a huge fan.  I listen to his songs and dance around the room or sit in my bed and cry.  It just revolves around the day. And he is going to New Orleans in September.  Which means I am skipping lunch, snacks, books, and everything  to go.  But the show I really want to go to is the one in Nashville where they have coffee house expierence that is 80 dollars more but only 18 people can buy tickets and actually meet him.  So I may convince the rents to let me pay for the rooms and tickets, but I doubt I will have enough money for gas and food.  But, I would honestly fall over dead if I met Hunter Hayes and got a *gasp * hug. Here is the video to my favorite song and my favorite singer. :) 


2)   To have a longer summer.......

   School starts back soon.  Oh way too soon.  I don't think I am ready to be an eighth grader.  I start my GPA now.   I have to maintain a 4.0 all through high school and honestly I think - I know - I can do it.  It is just a little hard to keep up with all of it.  I am going for Valedictorian and the grades kick in now.  Scary for me, personally.  Hopefully, Coach Vaughn won't kill us with running on Monday.  But I am ready for the 8 walls, 6 walls, 4 walls, and then when you are about to die 2 walls.  But yes,  I am usually more frequent in school on posting because I have more time on the internet in school. I met some awesome people on vacation this year and  yeah......

3) To read more of my Cage....
   Yes, he is my newest little addition.  He came in the mail about 2 and a half weeks ago.  Oh, and ladies you should be jealous, Abbi sent him to ME weeks before the book come out and I am not sharing with you all.  He is mine, mine, mine, and is never, ever leaving my basement- ever.  He is there for my own personal enjoyment.   Got it?  If you sneak in I may just kill you.........

4) We finally have a new, permanent reviewer on this blog.  One that if they don't post when they are suppose to I will go to her house and ask, Why haven't you posted yet, auntie? 
   Yes, my aunt is going to be an added addition to Courtney's Book Nook.  Her name is Andrea and she has been wanting to open her own blog ,so instead I invited her to my fictional basement and she excepted.  I am partially sharing my hubbys and book boyfriends with her and in exchange she is going to help with author interviews and reviews.  She is going to be the one to email authors back and forth.  I know just one fan letter can change a writer and reader relationship forever- or atleast to me.  Ain't that right , Linda? :P She may be sending a fan letter over later in life while I write one to Lydia on her ability to wash dishes a task I hate with passion.  
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   Adios my bookish loves,

        

Review: Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

  Title:Breaking Beautiful
  Author: Jennifer Shaw Wolf
 Published: April 24, 2012
 Publisher: Walker Childrens
 Source: Loan from Aunt 

  

My only question when I finished the book was to the Goodreads community- why the heck would you rate this book any less than 5 stars? It is unaccountably amazing. Riveting read. And I was stunned to see that Jennifer was a *gasp* debut. Authors who have wrote 40 books aren't near as a gifted writer as Jennifer. She had me drawn in since page one.

I read the first page and I was bawling. By middle way, I had to go get my comfort food- ice cream- out of the freezer. By the end I was crying to my dad about how I planned on building a shrine around the book- I am completely serious about this part. Jennifer, if you ever read this review. You are my newly found idol.

Breaking Beautiful- I am in love. I need to stop ranting about this book but it is THAT good.

I have to say there was several guys I love with every fiber of my being in this book. Okay I only have 2 but I honestly loved them with EVERY fiber of my being. Andrew, oh my Andrew, I never once saw this boy as disabled. I thought of him amazing- and a hero at the end of the book. How he tried to stop Trip and how Trip always called him spaz, I wanted to kill Trip. I'm crying now thinking about it. But Andrew you are so amazing- I am just jealous Caitlyn gets you. She is so lucky.
Then Blake- oh the one love of my life- Blake. I am burning with passion about how Jennifer wrote you. I have chill bumps from writing this but I don't care. I am in love. He loved her always no matter what. He was made fun of and called Juvy. He never turned on her no matter what Trip did to her to make it seem like she hated him. Oh and then risking - oh and I can't say it because of spoilers. Darn it. But lets say Jennifer Wolf is freakin' amazing. I never have read so non-fake writing or characters in my life.

Now Trip. I am not even going there with Trip. I hate him. I hate him with all of my life and every other part.

There were a few characters I found aweful but I just took a disliking to the Detective,James,Hannah and Mr. Phillips. It was a first off thing. I am going to stop ranting and go ahead and tell the world. I AM IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    

Blog Tour: Fall For You

Title: Fall For You
Series: A Jane Austen Academy Novel
Author: Cecilia Gray
The last thing that the girls at the elite all-girls Jane Austen Academy need is hot guys to flirt with. But over the summer the school has been sold, and like it or not, the guys are coming. And it's about to turn the Academy--and the lives of its students--totally upside down...

To say Lizzie and Dante are polar opposites is the understatement of the century. He's a snooty Exeter transfer with more money than Google. She's a driven study-a-holic barely keeping up with tuition. It's obvious that Dante thinks he's way too good for Lizzie. And Lizzie knows Dante is a snob with a gift for pushing her buttons.

But things are changing fast this year at the Academy. And when Lizzie's quest to stop those changes blows up in her face, taking her oldest friendship with it, she has nowhere else to turn but to Dante, with his killer blue eyes, his crazy-sexy smile, and his secrets... Secrets Lizzie can't seem to leave alone, no matter how hard she tries...

                                   
*Warning I am suffering from a major headache and words are causing it to pound more so you are warned if it is short and off topic. * 

  Oh, love.  May I just add that I may kidnap Dante and Cecilia for my expanding basement.  I am debating whether or not to cry or yelp in joy that the book was over.  It was cute, and a fast read for me.  I mean it took about an hour and a half.

  I liked the main character Lizzie, though head strong at points , then again wasn't Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice?  Seriously, I haven't read Pride and prejudice but I heard she was and I am sorta just comparing to Prom and Prejudice. 

  I bet it was a big difference that under went when you go from all female to male and female schooling.  I know personally from the book that if that happened to me and I met Dante I might as well just go ahead and elope. :P
   Okay well now the headache has esculated and I feel aweful.  A more clearer review will be put up in place of this one hopefully tomorrow.

Kidnapping Authors: Meet the Kidnappees. :P

   

As you all know I have been storing several males in my bookish basement, but lately I have been adding on a room so I may kidnap a few authors along with them.   I could just have conversations,tea, and actually get to read a sequel to a book or two.  So, here are the ones I plan on housing in my little corner in the basement. :)  So if you are listed here just think of it this way.  I am a tad obsessed with your characters. * Everything listed below about stalking and kidnapping is completely fiction.  Really, I don't plan on watching your everymore..................... or do I.............. ;)

1) Cindy C Bennett- http://cindybennett.blogspot.com/
-    Okay, okay she has been on my to-kidnap list for some time.  I mean she is one of the sweetest authors alive- no joke and she writes fantastic YA contemporary so I mean this is an author I would kidnap just to meet in person.  I think I want to take Henry and Trevor with her.  Okay, I think I will be kidnapping this writer just for my personal enjoyment of her company.
On a personal note to the author:Maybe one day we could meet one of Jen and Trevor's kids?  Please!?!   I will be watching your every move until then.




2) Linda Kage- lindakage.com-

Oh, Linda. :P

    -  Yes, I love this author for her writing, personality, and all together person.  In other words, she is freakin' amazing.  I believe I might just take her daughter with her.  I mean the kid helps out with dishes and I bet Maya could help with the potty training. :P   I already received Ryder in the mail a few weeks back, but maybe I can convince her to bring Luke when I travel to the midwest to bring her back to my basement.  And we can just talk, talk and talk about funny stories, crayons, and my future husband and current locked in my basement, Travis Mad Dog Maddox.
On a personal note to the author:
    Seriously,  you have to have a book signing in the south one day.  Other wise, I will be crying on the floor for the rest of my life. Or will I be peeking through your kitchen window until then......  You may never know.......................

3) Abbi Glines- http://www.abbiglines.com/-

 -  I loved Breathe, I idolized Because of Low, and now I am willing to sacrifice myself to read While it Lasts.  I mean seriously, Abbi why do you tempt me?  I would honestly kidnap this author just to get my hands on a copy of the book- now.  Honestly,  I would fake drink coffee and sit all day begging for a copy of the book. She even sent me Cage, Marcus, and Jax.  They are already there in my basement socializing with Travis Maddox and Ryder Yates.  Now if I could just personally meet the author who gave birth to these awesome guys I would die.
   On a personal note to the author:  May I just marry each of your books and have polygamist family to each?  As you know from before, I have kinda been watching your every move since I finished Because of Low. So, you ever in Mississippi let me know- oh wait I will already know that but you might just have to tell me to make sure I am there following you to a near by Barnes and Noble and begging you to sign the book. 


4) Jamie McGuire- http://www.jamiemcguire.com/-

     I have been obsessing over Travis and Jaime since the day I read about my bookish love, Travis.  My favorite book of all time and the Jamie and I would get along with the chocolate covered cherries.  I believe we would talk about chocolate and how much I want inside of Travis's head right now that I am willing to give my signed copy of Vampire Academy away and my left arm and leg.  I have kidnapped Travis but he won't quite tell me of his personal view about his love story between Abby and himself.
Personal note to the author:  If you ever feel the urge of coming down south with the kids I will be waiting with my books and the cult I have built up that is in love with Travis also and beg you to sign all of our books , oh amazing YA author. 


And that is all for now on the authors I plan on kidnapping and stalking.  Look for new ones next week. :P